Eye health
Vision impairment occurs when an eye condition affects the visual system and its functions. It affects people of all ages, although most people living with vision impairment are over 50 years of age. The main causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive error, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. In the African Region, trachoma, onchocerciasis, corneal opacity and childhood eye conditions also remain important causes of vision loss.
A 2026 systematic review of 91 population-based studies in Africa estimated that, after age-standardization to adults aged 50 years and over, approximately 9.5% of people had vision impairment and 1.9% were blind. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness, followed by uncorrected refractive error. The likelihood of vision impairment rose over time, while the prevalence of blindness remained stable (1).
Impact
Poor vision affects children’s learning, adults’ employment and income, and older people’s independence and safety. It is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety as well as falls and social isolation. In 2018, vision impairment was estimated to cost sub-Saharan Africa around US$ 9.7 billion annually in lost GDP productivity (2).
Achievements in the Region
Member States in the African Region have made significant progress against infectious causes of blindness. Vitamin A supplementation has sharply reduced childhood blindness from xerophthalmia. Ten Member States in the Region have been validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, most recently Algeria in April 2026 (3). Decades of community-directed treatment with ivermectin have greatly reduced blindness from onchocerciasis, and in 2025, Niger became the first country in Africa to be verified as having interrupted its transmission (4).
At the same time, population ageing, the rise of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases, changing lifestyles and environmental factors are increasing demand for eye care across the Region.
Prevention and treatment
Many causes of vision loss can be prevented. Infections, eye injuries and harm from unsafe traditional eye medicines or the inappropriate use of eye drops can be avoided or treated early. For conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, early detection through regular eye examinations and timely treatment prevent irreversible vision loss. Protective eyewear can also help prevent many work-related injuries in industry, construction and agriculture.
Effective treatments exist for most eye conditions. Refractive error can be corrected with spectacles, contact lenses or refractive surgery. Cataract can be removed through a short, safe surgical procedure. Other conditions can be managed with eye drops, medicines, laser treatment or surgery. For people whose vision loss cannot be reversed, rehabilitation services, including mobility and daily living skills training and assistive products such as magnifiers, can support independent living. Much of this care can be delivered through primary health care, including by trained non-specialist health workers (5).
In the African Region, many people still cannot access these services because they are unavailable, too far away or too expensive.
WHO response
The WHO Regional Office for Africa supports countries to integrate eye care into primary health care as part of universal health coverage, in line with World Health Assembly resolutions WHA73.4 (2020) (6) and WHA78.7 (2025) (7). Through the SPECS 2030 initiative, WHO is working with nine pioneer countries in the Region to improve access to affordable spectacles and refractive services.
References
- Kyei S, Asiamah R, Amoako PT, Kwarteng MA, Holdbrook S. Epidemiology of visual impairment and blindness in Africa: a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis. Lancet Reg Health Afr. 2026;5:100065. doi:10.1016/j.lanafr.2026.100065.
- Marques AP, et al. Global economic productivity losses from vision impairment and blindness. EClinicalMedicine. 2021;35:100852.
- WHO. Algeria eliminates trachoma as a public health problem. News release, 23 April 2026. (https://www.who.int/news/item/23-04-2026-algeria-eliminates-trachoma-as-a-public-health-problem)
- WHO. WHO verifies Niger as the first country in the African Region to eliminate onchocerciasis. News release, 30 January 2025 (https://www.who.int/news/item/30-01-2025-who-verifies-niger-as-the-first-country-in-the-african-region-to-eliminate-onchocerciasis).
- World report on vision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.
- Resolution WHA 74.5. Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA73/A73_R4-en.pdf)
- Resolution WHA78.7. Primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments including vision impairment and hearing loss, across the life course. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2025. (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_R7-en.pdf)
Key facts in the African Region
- At least 2.2 billion people worldwide have a near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion of these cases, vision impairment could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed (1).
- The leading causes of vision loss in the African Region are cataract and uncorrected refractive error, both of which can be treated cost-effectively (2).
- In 2025, effective cataract surgical coverage in the African Region was about 24%; only one in four people who need cataract surgery receive it with a good visual outcome (3).
- In 2023, effective refractive error coverage in the Region was estimated at around 28.3% (4).
- Vision loss is more common in rural areas and among women, and its prevalence increases with age (2).
- In 2021, Member States adopted global 2030 targets to increase effective refractive error coverage by 40 percentage points and effective cataract surgical coverage by 30 percentage points (5).
References
- World report on vision. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.
- Kyei S, Asiamah R, Amoako PT, Kwarteng MA, Holdbrook S. Epidemiology of visual impairment and blindness in Africa: a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis. Lancet Reg Health Afr. 2026;5:100065. doi:10.1016/j.lanafr.2026.100065.
- McCormick I, et al. Effective cataract surgical coverage in adults aged 50 years and older: empirical estimates from population-based surveys in 68 countries and modelled estimates for 2000–30. Lancet Glob Health. 2026;14:e367–77.
- Bourne RRA, et al. Effective refractive error coverage in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of updated estimates from population-based surveys in 76 countries modelling the path towards the 2030 global target. Lancet Glob Health. 2025;13(8):e1396–e1405.
- Decision WHA74(12). Integrated people-centred eye care, including preventable vision impairment and blindness. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/A74(12)-en.pdf)
Eye health in the African Region: situation and WHO response
The challenge
Vision impairment is rising in the African Region as populations age and noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes become more common. Unoperated cataract is the leading cause of blindness and a major cause of vision impairment, followed by uncorrected refractive error. The Region has the lowest level of effective eye care coverage of any WHO region, reflecting shortages of eye care workers, the concentration of services in urban areas, high out-of-pocket costs, and weak integration of eye care into primary health care.
Key indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective cataract surgical coverage (eCSC), African Region | 23.6% | 2025 | McCormick et al. 2026 | Modelled estimates; projected to reach 25.6% by 2030 under current trends |
| eCSC, African Region, baseline median | 13.9% | Baseline report 2022 (data from earlier surveys) | WHO 2022 | Different method (median of country surveys); do not compare directly with 23.6% |
| Effective refractive error coverage (eREC), African Region | 28.3% | 2023 | Bourne et al. 2025 | Modelled estimates for distance eREC |
| eREC, African Region, baseline median | 12.4% | Baseline report 2022 | WHO 2022 | Median of country surveys |
| Prevalence of vision impairment (age-standardized to ≥50 years) | 9.5% | Studies to 2025 | Kyei et al. 2026 | Pooled from 91 studies |
| Prevalence of blindness (age-standardized to ≥50 years) | 1.9% | Studies to 2025 | Kyei et al. 2026 | Stable over time |
| Diabetic retinopathy among adults with diabetes, sub-Saharan Africa | 25.5% | Studies to 2025 | Ismail et al. 2025 | Pooled prevalence of any diabetic retinopathy |
| Annual productivity loss from vision impairment, sub-Saharan Africa | US$ 9.7 billion | Studies to 2018 | Marques et al. 2021 | Annual productivity losses (GDP) in US$ billion ppp (95% UI) |
Global commitments
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2019 | World report on vision sets out the case for integrated people-centred eye care. |
| 2020 | Resolution WHA73.4 urges Member States to make eye care an integral part of universal health coverage and to implement integrated people-centred eye care. |
| 2021 | Decision WHA74(12) endorses two global targets for 2030: a 40-percentage-point increase in eREC and a 30-percentage-point increase in eCSC. |
| 2022 | WHO publishes the baseline report on the 2030 targets, showing that the African Region has the lowest coverage of all WHO regions. |
| 2024 | WHO launches SPECS 2030 to help countries reach the global eREC target. |
| 2025 | Resolution WHA78.7 on primary prevention and integrated care for sensory impairments, including vision impairment and hearing loss, across the life course, is adopted. |
| 2025–2026 | SPECS 2030 implementation begins in nine pioneer countries in the African Region. |
Resolution WHA78.7 calls on Member States to integrate vision and hearing care into national health plans and primary health care; promote inclusive policies that reduce inequalities; introduce early screening and intervention for high-risk groups; expand and train the health workforce; ensure quality services and sustainable financing; include sensory care in national health benefit packages; and strengthen monitoring, evaluation and research.
How WHO supports countries
- Strategic direction and policy: supporting the development of national eye health strategies aligned with primary health care and universal health coverage.
- Technical tools and guidance: providing situation analysis tools, service packages, competency frameworks and indicators (see Resources).
- Workforce development: supporting countries through regional core competencies for the eye health workforce and primary eye care training materials.
- Data and monitoring: Supporting the collection and use of data on eye conditions, risk factors and service coverage, and helping countries integrate eye health indicators into routine health information systems.
- Partnerships: convening governments, nongovernmental organizations, academia and the private sector around SPECS 2030. SPECS 2030 partners: https://www.who.int/initiatives/specs-2030/global-specs-network/members
SPECS 2030 in the African Region
SPECS 2030 helps countries reach the global target for effective refractive error coverage by strengthening five key areas: eye care services, the eye health personnel workforce, education and awareness, reducing the cost of care, and surveillance.
Nine pioneer countries in the African Region are implementing SPECS 2030: Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia. With support from WHO and partners, these countries are conducting situation analyses, developing policies and strategies, training health workers and integrating eye health indicators into routine health information systems.
In Kenya, implementing partners have screened more than 1.5 million people and dispensed over 120 000 pairs of eyeglasses since the launch of SPECS 2030 in April 2026. Liberia is expanding refractive error services through primary health care, while the Gambia is increasing access through new vision centres and school-based programmes. South Africa and Malawi are strengthening workforce capacity, Mauritania has launched an evidence-based national eye health strategy, and both Mauritania and Zambia are strengthening surveillance, monitoring and research systems. Rwanda has recently begun implementing SPECS 2030.
Get your eyes checked
Many eye conditions do not cause pain or obvious symptoms in their early stages. Regular eye checks help detect problems early, when treatment is most effective.
- Children: have their eyes checked before starting school and whenever a teacher or parent notices a possible vision problem.
- Adults over 50: have an eye check every one to two years.
- People living with diabetes: have an eye examination at least once a year, even if your sight seems fine.
- People with a family history of glaucoma: inform your health worker and have regular eye checks.
You can do a quick check of your vision using the free WHOeyes app on your smartphone. However, it does not replace a comprehensive eye examination.
See a health worker immediately if you have
- sudden loss of vision or sudden blurring in one or both eyes
- a painful red eye, especially if accompanied by blurred vision
- an eye injury or a chemical splash to the eye (first rinse the eye thoroughly with clean water)
- flashes of light, a shower of new “floaters” or a shadow spreading across your field of vision.
Signs a child may have a vision problem
- holding books or phones very close, or sitting close to the television
- squinting, rubbing the eyes frequently or tilting the head to see
- struggling to read the board at school
- eyes that do not look in the same direction
- a white or unusual reflection in the pupil, for example in a photograph taken with a flash: this needs urgent attention.
Everyday ways to protect your eyes
- Wear protective eyewear when working with tools, machines, chemicals or crops.
- Do not use traditional remedies or someone else’s eye drops. Use only medicines prescribed for you.
- Keep faces clean and use clean water and latrines: this helps prevent trachoma.
- Let children play outdoors for at least 90 minutes a day: time outdoors is good for the eyes and helps protect against short-sightedness.
- If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar and blood pressure under control protects your eyes.
- Wear sunglasses and a hat in strong sunlight.
- Wear your glasses if they have been prescribed for you and replace them if your sight changes.
Frequently asked questions
Can cataract be cured? Yes. A routine operation replaces the cloudy lens with a clear artificial one. Most people see much better afterwards.
Is vision loss just part of getting old? No. Most vision loss in older people is caused by conditions such as cataract and refractive error that can be treated.
My child needs glasses. Will glasses make their eyes weaker? No. Glasses help children see clearly and learn effectively. They do not damage the eyes.
Where can I get an eye examination? Visit your nearest health facility and ask to see an eye care professional.
Understand the case for action
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| World report on vision | Explore the global evidence and recommendations for integrated people-centred eye care. |
| Report of the 2030 targets on effective coverage of eye care | Review baseline values for the eREC and eCSC targets. |
| Blindness and vision impairment: WHO fact sheet | Access global key facts. |
| Resolutions WHA73.4 and WHA78.7; decision WHA74(12) | Understand Member State commitments. |
Plan eye care services
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Eye care in health systems: guide for action | Plan and implement integrated people-centred eye care. |
| Eye care situation analysis tool (ECSAT) | Assess a national eye care system. |
| Refractive error situation analysis tool (RESAT) | Assess refractive error services specifically. |
| Package of eye care interventions (PECI) | Identify evidence-based interventions to include in service packages. |
| Tool for the assessment of diabetic retinopathy and diabetes management systems (TADDS) | Assess diabetic eye care services. |
| Tool for Assessment of Rehabilitation Services and Systems (TARSS) | Assess rehabilitation, including for vision loss. |
| Policy considerations to improve access to refractive error care | Explore policy options on cost and access to spectacles. |
Train the workforce
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Core competencies for the eye health workforce in the WHO African Region | Apply regional competency standards for the eye health workforce. |
| Primary eye care training manual | Train primary health care workers in essential eye care. |
| Eye care competency framework (ECCF) | Use a global competency framework for eye care workforce planning and development. |
| Competency-based refractive error teams (CRET) | Design and strengthen refractive care teams. |
| Learning on TAP: blended learning resource | Access blended learning resources for eye health professionals. |
Deliver services
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Vision and eye screening implementation handbook (VESIH) | Plan and implement vision screening programmes. |
| Vision and hearing screening for school-age children: implementation handbook | Design and implement school-based screening programmes. |
| Summary guide on quality standards for spectacles | Apply minimum quality standards for ready-made and custom-made spectacles. |
Monitor progress
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Catalogue of key eye health indicators in the African Region | Monitor eye health performance using a regional set of indicators. |
| Eye care indicator menu (ECIM) | Monitor progress using WHO’s global eye health indicator framework. |
| Routine health information systems (RHIS) – sensory functions toolkit | Integrate eye and hearing health indicators into routine health information systems. |
Raise awareness
| Resource | Use it to |
|---|---|
| Check your vision with the WHOeyes app | Conduct a quick self-check of your vision using a free mobile application. |
| MyopiaEd | Support myopia awareness and prevention. |
| Healthy eyes and myopia prevention materials | Promote eye care. |
Publications
See all
Core competencies for the eye health workforce in the WHO African Region
Worldwide, 285 million persons are visually impaired. Among these, 39 million are blind and 246 million suffer from low vision. Visual impairment increases with age (13). Sixty-five percent (65%) of the visually impaired and 82% of the blind are above 50 years of age (11).
